Lee, Bruce - DVD

Fists of Fury/Chinese Connection

Amazon Price: $12.99 List Price: $14.98 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Madacy Records Amazon Marketplace: 20 new & used starting at $2.10

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 1.0 of 5

Very poor quality 1 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I usually keep every DVD I buy regardless if the movie is good or not, this one was so bad that I promptly returned it the same day i bought it. I couldn't wathch more than 5 minutes. Sound and Picture quality are horrible.

It is ashame 1 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

When I purchased my DVD player this Bruce Lee film set was one of my first DVD purchases. What a disappointing waste! I am glad this DVD set wasn't my first exposure to Bruce Lee or his films. If it were, I never would have become as big a fan as I feel that I am. The sound is ludicrous -I mean it is insulting. The picture quality was so bad that at first viewing, I kept cleaning my glasses in dis-belief. I simply couldn't watch this #@*`! Don't waste your money like I did; then again it is your money. And some people don't believe #@*` stinks until they smell it. If you wish to see these truly exciting films I would suggest you try some other format or producer (which ever comes first). I threw this set away -after I vented my disappointment on it with a pair of scissors.

Tower of Death

Amazon Price: List Price: $14.95 By: Tai Seng Amazon Marketplace: 5 new & used starting at $10.95

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 24 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Good Choreography, Bad Movie 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Whoever thinks the choreography of this film is bad is highly mistaken, it's some of the best stuff ever. Also, Tong Lung's kicks show he's no hack, in fact he probably kicks in this movie more than all of Bruce's films in total.

Just like other Ng See-yuen and Yuen Woo-ping collaborations, this movie is all about TKD practitioners. Essentially, this film is Bruceploitation combined with a typical bootmaster filled Seasonal Films movie.

While bruceploitation is no doubt disrespectful stuff, Yuen Woo-ping's choreography and Yuen Biao's stunts saves this one.

Listen to Eric Jacobus, he knows what he's talking about (just search him up and you'll find out why).

Beware of the Killer Peacocks! 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Game of Death II (aka Tower of Death) is a dichotomy of a film. It is a Bruceploitation film (though it is one of the better ones) and it is an exiting revenge flick. Raymond Chow had apparently not made enough money off of the insipid Game of Death and was slowly leaking "newly found" footage of Bruce so it was bound that he would create another film with spliced in footage, redubbed dialog and, of course, Bruce's namesake. A lot of people were using Lee's name to promote their own productions, but Golden Harvest (who Bruce worked for; though technically this was a Seasonal production) was the worst of these offenders.

The first act of the movie is the least interesting and worst part of the film. Bruce Lee stars (posthumously edited in) as Billy Lo (Bruce Lee) who visits his friend Chin Ku (Hwang Jang Lee) who is currently beating up an under-classed challenger. After an reestablishment of friendship between the two (never a good sign in a Kung Fu film), he visits an abbot (Roy Chiao revisiting his role from Enter the Dragon so they can reuse and redub footage) to discuss about his contumacious brother Bobby Lo (Tong Lung who also starred in Game of Death).

Of course, the scenes that compromise the first act are not only exploitative of Bruce Lee they are also poorly done. The most obvious is that the backgrounds do not match between Bruce's footage and the new footage. Also check out the sculpted back muscles of Bruce and compare them to his double. It is not even close. The fight scenes with Bruce (and his double) do not flow well. However, anytime you see a fight scene and that Bruce (or his double) does a difficult move such as a flip you will notice that it is the incomparable Yuen Biao (he even has a small role toward the beginning.)
Bruce later visits the funeral of his friend Chin Ku and he is prevented from examining the body (this must mean something to the plot.) When the ceremony takes place a helicopter comes by and snags the coffin. For some strange reason, well to dispose of the fake Bruce character, he jumps on the coffin as it is flying away and is hit with a dart and falls to his death. This is absolutely absurd. Though this is not as bad as the 70s clothes at the funeral or the tacky real funeral footage of Bruce Lee that would come next.

Now the movie gets more interesting and less exploitative. Bobby learns of his brother's death from his father who tells him to meet Sherman Lan. Sherman tells him to go to the Palace of Death. Now this is an interesting place. It is owned by Lewis, played by Roy Horan who has been an executive at Seasonal, an actor who also acted in Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, a student of Hwang Jang Lee and currently a lecturer at HK Polytechnic University; obviously his life is more interesting than this film. Bobby suspects Lewis as the culprit behind his brother's death. Lewis likes to eat raw meat, is surrounded by lions (who are fed the fighters that he defeats), Killer Peacocks and a one-armed valet (oh my). The one-armed assistant, a monk from the Fan Yu temple) does not seem that he could be of great use to Lewis, but Lewis says that he is faithful and he has known him for a long time (do not dwell on this fact because the absurdity of what happens later is quite hilarious). I really do not trust one-armed people in Hong Kong films unless they are played by Jimmy Wang Yu.

Lewis tells Bobby of a tower built by abbot Hung Kuang. However, it cannot be found above ground. The abbot had it built underground (this is a nice twist until you see how much they spent on the set design and how many levels there actually are). Obviously there is going to be a show down there with Bobby fighting however is behind all of this madness. I will not give it away (or tell what happens at the Palace of Death) but it is fairly obvious who it will be.

The final act of the film leads to some good fighting scenes, obviously with the help of action director Yuen Wo-Ping, as Bobby makes his way down the tower (try to see how many times Yuen Biao is used as a stunt double; hint check every other move Bobby makes). Most of the film is entertaining (not counting the irritating and unnecessary flashbacks). There is always going to be tackiness involved anytime you invoke Bruce Lee's inimitable name; but once the movie gets past that it is fun to watch. In fact it is the best Bruceploitation film out there -- though that does not necessarily mean that much.

Enter The Dragon

Amazon Price: $29.95 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Bonzai Media Corp. RSP Amazon Marketplace: 5 new & used starting at $10.52

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Editorial Review:

Playing a secret agent hired by the British to break up an opium ring, Bruce must go undercover as a contestant in a sadistic martial arts tournament. Hosted by the targeted crime lord on his island hideaway, this tournament pits the baddest kung fu cats in the world against each other--but not one of them can match Bruce's dazzling and deadly skills.

Fists of Fury

Amazon Price: List Price: $4.98 By: Good Times Video Amazon Marketplace: 47 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 64 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Bruce Lee kicked around Hollywood for years looking in vain for an American break when Hong Kong came calling. As Kato in the TV series The Green Hornet he had become an Asian star (the series was renamed for his character when it crossed the Pacific) and ripe for his own vehicle. This raw, low-budget effort, called The Big Boss in its native Hong Kong, is a generic revenge drama enlivened by Lee's intense screen presence and martial arts prowess. He's a country boy who takes a job at a Thailand ice-packing plant and discovers it's a cover for heroin smuggling. Lee is held back through the first half of the film by a promise he made his sweet, gray-haired mom not to brawl (which means you have to wait to see him in action), but his indignation turns to fury as friends and coworkers disappear and the boss sends thugs to take care of the brooding, intense country boy. The final half of the film is a series of violent confrontations, culminating in a marvelously choreographed showdown at the ice plant. Lean, mean Lee, with a physique that looked sculpted in bronze, became an overnight sensation with this film, breaking all Asian box-office records and starting an international kung fu craze, but none of the pretenders ever touched Lee's cool cinematic charisma or his martial arts grace. Lee returned the next year in The Chinese Connection. --Sean Axmaker

Fists of Fury/Chinese Connection

Amazon Price: $10.99 List Price: $11.98 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Madacy Records - Model: 9097 Amazon Marketplace: 49 new & used starting at $0.29

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 40 Average rating: 1.5 of 5

How about zero stars? 1 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

It's a good thing I only paid $3.00 for this at Goodwill. As everyone says, the quality sucks and the vocal quality in Chinese Connection is inexcusable...Bruce has a voice like lurch. What the hell were the jerks at Madacy thinking? Lee would reach in their rib cages and rip out their hearts!

defective transfer 1 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

not only does the quality of this dvd suck, the side with the chinese connection runs at about 85% speed, so everyone sounds like james earl jones - even the women.
keeeRAP.

What a disappointment! 1 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

DO NOT BUY THIS DVD, IT'S A COMPLETE RIPOFF!
I'm a big fan of Bruce Lee. I thought this double feature would be a good bargain for the price. Well, you really get what you pay for.
The quality of picture and sound is so terrible that you sometimes can't even see or hear the characters. I'm truly surprised that this 'piece of garbage' is still on the market after all this time.

Somebody, please take it OFF! It's an insult to Bruce Lee and his fans.

ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE, A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED RIP OFF 1 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Amazon should ban sellers of this DVD. It looks like someone copied a VHS to DVD. It sounds like James Earl Jones is doing voice overs FOR EVERY CHARACTER, women included. And there are no sound effects during the fights. I almost want to sue the seller, on principle alone.

Cinema of Vengeance

Amazon Price: $4.99 List Price: $4.99 In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. By: Fortune 5 Amazon Marketplace: 19 new & used starting at $0.41

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 1.0 of 5

"Looks like the best in, "Martial Arts," all in one history" 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 3 people found this review helpful.

"Still unsure if it's any good, it wasn't capatible with my JVC-(DVD,VCR) or PS2. So, if you live in the United State and Want to view it, what seem to be the best of the new best. For kung-fu move collector, make sure it will be capatible with you system first, before buying. I know, you are welcome!

Cinema of Vengeance Wouldn't Play in My DVD as well 1 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I can't rate this film as well. This is the only commercial DVD that wouldn't play in my DVD. The Distributor was a company called Fortune 5 DVD and imprinted on the disc was VideoAsia. The DVD video box artwork was nicely done with more information then is usually available, all for nothing.

I would avoid all Fortune 5 DVDs.

Editorial Review:

The biggest names in the Hong Kong film industry reveal the ongoing history of the action genre.

Chinese Connection

Amazon Price: List Price: $4.98 By: Good Times Video Amazon Marketplace: 48 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 84 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Sound is bad but the movie is good 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 3 people found this review helpful.

The voices are dubed in and it is in a deep voice but there a some great fight seens but if you want to see a really good Bruce Lee movie get Enter the Dragon.The Chinese Connection is still a good movie

Bruce shines in this, his best the lot 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I love this movie and still think its Lee at his best. Between the scene of him as a very awkward phone repairman, and the scene where he takes on a horde of bad guys with Nunchucks, this is his most complete performance on screen to me and showed his talent at its best. This transfer is of a much better quality than most of the releases out there of this movie. If you ever wanted to see just how good and talented Bruce was, just watch this one and find out.
The story is standard for these movies but Lee bumps the action and the acting up to give this one it's true classic reputation.

The Early Bruce Lee... 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

1972's "The Chinese Connection" features a young Bruce Lee as the leading student at a King Fu Academy in 1908 Shanghai. The storyline is a simple tale of revenge, but in the context of a Shanghai dominated by Japanese and other outsiders, in which the natives are treated as second-class citizens, it resonated deeply with its original Chinese audience.

In the movie, Chen, played by Bruce Lee, returns to his academy to find that his beloved master, a famous martial artist, is dead. Chen is stricken with grief, but learns from his fellow students that his master's death may not have been an accident. Chen patiently but violently works his way back through the members of a rival Japanese school, looking for those responsible for the master's death. Highlights include a many-on-one fight at the school, which Chen wins decisively, and a confrontation with a Russian martial artist brought in to deal with Chen. Chen's willingness to stand up for his fellow Chinese forces the hand of the local authorities (including a police chief played by director Lo Wei), who are beholden to the Japanese. Cornered at the end, the gallant Chen will be left with only one option.

The original Chinese is dubbed over in English, unfortunately resulting in dialogue that sounds like it was lifted from a high school drama. Fortunately, the non-verbal qualities of the acting, including a touching performance by Nora Miao as Chen's love interest and some nicely choreographed fight sequences, carry the movie. "Chinese Connection" is a Raymond Chow production, and a better than average representative of the early martial arts genre.

This movie is highly recommended to fans of Bruce Lee and of the early martial arts movies.

Fists of Fury

Amazon Price: List Price: $7.49 By: Good Times Home Video Amazon Marketplace: 16 new & used starting at $1.95

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 64 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Bruce Lee kicked around Hollywood for years looking in vain for an American break when Hong Kong came calling. As Kato in the TV series The Green Hornet he had become an Asian star (the series was renamed for his character when it crossed the Pacific) and ripe for his own vehicle. This raw, low-budget effort, called The Big Boss in its native Hong Kong, is a generic revenge drama enlivened by Lee's intense screen presence and martial arts prowess. He's a country boy who takes a job at a Thailand ice-packing plant and discovers it's a cover for heroin smuggling. Lee is held back through the first half of the film by a promise he made his sweet, gray-haired mom not to brawl (which means you have to wait to see him in action), but his indignation turns to fury as friends and coworkers disappear and the boss sends thugs to take care of the brooding, intense country boy. The final half of the film is a series of violent confrontations, culminating in a marvelously choreographed showdown at the ice plant. Lean, mean Lee, with a physique that looked sculpted in bronze, became an overnight sensation with this film, breaking all Asian box-office records and starting an international kung fu craze, but none of the pretenders ever touched Lee's cool cinematic charisma or his martial arts grace. Lee returned the next year in The Chinese Connection. --Sean Axmaker

City Hunter

Amazon Price: List Price: $29.95 By: Image Entertainment Amazon Marketplace: 7 new & used starting at $7.05

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 42 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan gives his self-mocking humor full flourish in City Hunter, adapted from a Japanese comic book. But that doesn't mean there isn't a solid dose of action--after a brilliantly cartoonish opening, the movie settles into a half-comedy, half-thriller variation on Die Hard, in which Eurotrash terrorists have hijacked a plush ocean cruise liner and super-detective Ryu Saeba (Chan) has to stop them, aided by his lovely, love-lorn assistant (Joey Wong, A Chinese Ghost Story, Green Snake) and a beautiful undercover secret agent (Chingmy Yau, Naked Killer). Though City Hunter is short on breathtaking stunts, there's plenty of well-choreographed hand-to-hand combat. Jackie Chan's lecherous, self-absorbed character (accompanied by a parade of girls into skimpy or skin-tight outfits) come across like a gleeful parody of James Bond (slightly marred by a bit of homophobia). All in all, a high energy romp. --Bret Fetzer

Real Bruce Lee, The

Amazon Price: $4.98 List Price: $4.98 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment - Model: 298 Amazon Marketplace: 29 new & used starting at $1.23

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 2.0 of 5

This Is A Fraud! 1 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

The title is misleading. Less than 1/3 of this 'film' is about Bruce Lee, which features films made when he was a child actor, and a paltry amount of other photos. Then the shmucks who created this 'film' completely forget the 'real' Bruce Lee and show a wanna-be named Bruce Li whose martial arts are marginal at best. After that debacle, we get to watch a poorly made Kung Fu movie featuring another wanna-be named 'Dragon Lee', who, whilst he may physically resemble the real Bruce, is much slower, and his style of Kung Fu rather ornate and silly which the real Bruce thought was a waste. What's really a waste is any money spent on this fraud of a film. The hucksters who threw it together did so withthe obvious intent of duping the public looking for a quality documentary on the one and only late Bruce Lee. It's an insult to his legacy. The shysters who spliced this crap together should be flogged in public. Whatever you do, don't buy this film!

Editorial Review:

This program features clips of films from the young Lee along with footage from his funeral in 1973 and the full-length feature The Ultimate Lee, started by Bruce but finished by a look-alike.